What's the problem with electric cars?

[Thekilt]

Many vehicle manufacturers have been letting go of workforce in the past 6 months due to the slow update of all vehicle sales. The reason Tesla hits the news so much is mainly down to share prices. When you compare Tesla, a company which was founded in 2003 and only really started hitting mainstream with the first Model S in 2011 their shares at present are at 156USD, to companies like VW group which shares are at 120 Euros. Tesla shares buy and sell quickly, things hitting the news affects shares values which benefit the investors. I personally feel this is a good thing for tesla becuase to enable them to survive they will either have to increae their quality and reliability compared to the german rivals, or reduce price. Either is a win win.

The Nissan leaf, the original one has encountered some issues recently. Their app connectivity is now redundant as it all connects by 3G and is going through a switch off. people cannot connect to control charging, pre-conditioning ect so a lot of people have been letting them go. No wonder so many are not around any more. I also suspect so many have been written off in accidents as most electric cars are scrapped by the insurers due to the repair costs.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by Thekilt

Many vehicle manufacturers have been letting go of workforce in the past 6 months due to the slow update of all vehicle sales. The reason Tesla hits the news so much is mainly down to share prices. When you compare Tesla, a company which was founded in 2003 and only really started hitting mainstream with the first Model S in 2011 their shares at present are at 156USD, to companies like VW group which shares are at 120 Euros. Tesla shares buy and sell quickly, things hitting the news affects shares values which benefit the investors. I personally feel this is a good thing for tesla becuase to enable them to survive they will either have to increae their quality and reliability compared to the german rivals, or reduce price. Either is a win win.

Tesla are only doing what any responsible board of directors would do and that's size the company to the order book. The drop in their share price was negligible, the worst things they could have done it ignore it and then post weak financial performance 12-18 months later.

[Forg]

Originally Posted by Kev0607

The Leaf battery range (early 24kw models in particular) is woeful. I think people buy them because they're cheap, but then realise that they're useless on a journey. If you make it on your journey that is... you'd be lucky to get 60-70 miles out of one on a full charge.

Also, due to the much longer ranges & much more normal-to-drive newer EV's, the value of those old Leafs is very little ... to the point that nerds by them for nothing & pull the batteries to to home-made probably-major-fire-hazard stuff on their house or shed (even if the 24kWh has degraded to 12kWh it's bigger than most house batteries).

[foggyjames]

Originally Posted by The Thong

When is the EX30 sub forum going to appear then?

Good point! I'll raise it with the team.

Originally Posted by Kev0607

The Leaf battery range (early 24kw models in particular) is woeful. I think people buy them because they're cheap, but then realise that they're useless on a journey. If you make it on your journey that is... you'd be lucky to get 60-70 miles out of one on a full charge.

I know a few people who have them as commuting tools, alongside an internal-combustion car (often one car each in a couple). They take the latter on longer journeys. If you can accommodate that (i.e. two cars, and your commute is relatively short) it makes for some very cheap motoring, especially if you do the smart-charging / clever tariff stuff. It would be hopeless for long distance motoring, but horses for courses.

cheers

James

[Thekilt]

Originally Posted by Forg

Also, due to the much longer ranges & much more normal-to-drive newer EV's, the value of those old Leafs is very little ... to the point that nerds by them for nothing & pull the batteries to to home-made probably-major-fire-hazard stuff on their house or shed (even if the 24kWh has degraded to 12kWh it's bigger than most house batteries).

There are quite a lot of companies that re-use the battery backs and turn them into household storage batteries. Where they are charged and discharged throughout the day the state of charge doesnt matter so much as it doesnt need to hold the full capacity for a period of time. Perfect for this.

The dodgy installs are the concern though but if you want to go onto a beneficial energy tarrif and export tarrifs it all needs to be registered on the national system so unless its an off grid system you are bulding there is no benefit on bodging it.

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

On another EV topic.... they don't seem to last as long. Was reading a car mag in the tyre fitting waiting room this morning, and....

Between 2011 and 2013 Nissan sold 3,104 Leafs. Only 2,152 of those are still taxed, so 69% of them are still in use. Ford Focus - 89%.

Should be easy to verify those figures on Howmanyleft

The other 1,000 have 100% become battery donors, either for other leafs or home electricity storage. The remaining 1st gen Leafs won't be long before they join them.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by FreshAir

The other 1,000 have 100% become battery donors, either for other leafs or home electricity storage. The remaining 1st gen Leafs won't be long before they join them.

Must get a battery donor card....

[tofufi]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

On another EV topic.... they don't seem to last as long. Was reading a car mag in the tyre fitting waiting room this morning, and....

Between 2011 and 2013 Nissan sold 3,104 Leafs. Only 2,152 of those are still taxed, so 69% of them are still in use. Ford Focus - 89%.

Should be easy to verify those figures on Howmanyleft

Don't forget Gen 1 Leaf uses very old (in current terms) technology.

The batteries, especially on the early models have very poor or no cooling systems, and the heating system doesn't use a heat pump. Both these things significantly affect battery life and vehicle range.

They are a world apart from a modern EV in terms of technology and performance.

[The Thong]

Development Development…… To get the EV’s to a point where the tech ie Charging, Battery Range etc etc is going to take time. Sadly not quick enough for the environmentalists and the Government who seem to think this will just appear as if by magic. Despite the naysayers, EV has a future. We just need to be patient

TT

[The Thong]

Still can’t get my head around this price…. It’s an idiotic amount of money

TT